Nigeria’s former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi said on Wednesday he would serve only one four-year term if elected in 2027, a pledge that breaks with the country’s two-term tradition.
Obi posted the statement on his X account, saying his plan was about principle and accountability. He argued that “impact matters more than tenure,” and cited Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Nelson Mandela as examples.
He listed his goals for a single term: overhaul government, improve security, fix healthcare, invest in schools, grow small businesses and farms, and fight corruption.
The plan drew criticism. Josef Onoh, a former aide to President Bola Tinubu, said limiting himself to one term went against democratic choice and the constitution, which allows two terms. He also called Obi’s historical comparisons “absurd.”
Analyst Yabagi Sani said the idea may not resonate in northern Nigeria, where longer tenures and power rotation traditions are strong. That could hurt Obi’s support in the region.
Nigeria’s 1999 constitution permits presidents to serve two four-year terms. Obi’s promise would be a self-imposed restriction.
Observers say the move could reset voter expectations and alter party calculations for 2027. Some see it as a sign of integrity; others view it as political weakness.
Obi finished third in the 2023 presidential vote but has stayed active in national debates, positioning himself as a reform candidate outside Nigeria’s two main parties.
